When Zulqarnain Haider narrowly avoided becoming only the second Test debutant to be out first ball in both innings thanks to a successful appeal to the TV umpire it conceivably saved a Test career. It certainly saved a series. If you stretch the point, it might even have saved Pakistan Test cricket. On such tiny margins, reputations can survive or fall.

Graeme Swann's appeal for lbw as a sharply turning delivery rammed into Zulqarnain's pad looked stone dead. The Australian umpire, Steve Davis, certainly thought so and gave him out. But Zulqarnain was reprieved as the decision review system showed the ball creeping past leg stump. More than four and a half hours later, he was dismissed for 88. We do not quite have a match. But neither do we have certitude.

"You are never out of the game until it ends," said Salman Butt, Pakistan's captain. "The pitch has been double paced. It has been no good for stroke makers. The patience he showed was something to learn from."

By avoiding a king pair in such a fashion, Zulqarnain ensured his own quirky entry in cricket history. It was on Wikipedia within minutes. In another seven months, after much intellectualising, it will be in Wisden. But this was much more than an interesting footnote to a cricket career. It might literally be a life saver.

Shortly before the Test, his father, Syed, was admitted to hospital with hepatitis C. He suffered massive internal bleeding and went into a coma. As Zulqarnain off‑drove Steve Finn's half-volley to reach a half‑century from 150 balls and plunged to the earth to kiss the ground his heartfelt thanks seemed entirely appropriate. He had no way of knowing if his father was well enough to hear of his success.

"He showed great ability under pressure," said Butt. "He has been under stress for quite a few days. His father is a bit better. I hope and pray he recovers."

Zulqarnain benefited from the DRS twice, the second time coming on 18 when England unsuccessfully appealed for a catch at the wicket off Stuart Broad. Hotspot, which is not the infallible umpiring aid that many imagine, sensed no contact. At the end of his next over, Broad petulantly flung the ball back at the stumps and struck Zulqarnain on the shoulder. Soon afterwards, Snicko, which takes much longer to set up, suggested that he had edged it after all. Who said that technology has no soul?

The only other player to suffer two first-ballers on debut was Ted Badcock in New Zealand's inaugural Test against England in Christchurch 80 years ago. Badcock had served in the army in India and reports tell of his urbane, immaculately groomed manner. At that time Test cricket was confident of expansion and Badcock would probably have regarded the game as a vital product of Empire.

There is no talk of expansion in Test cricket now; Twenty20 maybe, but not the poor, put-upon five-day game. Test cricket needs Pakistan, especially a Pakistan side playing proud, volatile, attacking cricket. But Pakistan cricket, like no other, responds in extreme fashion to defeat and victory. It would not take too many thrashings for Pakistan to follow its inclinations and concentrate overwhelmingly on the one-day game.

Fond hopes that England could provide an enthusiastic home for Pakistan Test cricket now that terrorism has turned them into the itinerants of international cricket have proved overly optimistic. Their "home" Test against Australia at Headingley was shunned despite a concerted marketing campaign, and crowds have been mediocre against England.

The lament of bagpipes outside the ground might have sounded for Pakistan's faltering Test reputation. Most bagpipes made in Pakistan can be of questionable quality. Buy a set of Pakistani bagpipes on eBay, the experts warn, and you may have to replace half the parts, which sounds similar to the approach of those who select the Pakistan Test team. Zulqarnain, though, was the real thing.